Madina Milano Prisma Shine swatches

I love Prisma Shine (from the Revolution range by Madina Milano) powders: they're such an innovative product! I will explain more in-depth in a full review, but just know that they are awesome and addictive :P

Io amo le polveri Prisma Shine di Madina (della linea Revolution): sono un prodotto veramente innovativo! Vi spiegherò il perché in una recensione completa, ma sappiate che sono stupende e creano dipendenza :P

Here some of the eyeshadows and face powders that where in the Via Meravigli store.

Questi sono gli ombretti e le polveri viso che erano nel negozio di via Meravigli.

Prisma Shine All Over, highlighter + bronzer
And the eyeshadow swatches:

 

Above: 013, 008, 009, 021, 022, 029, 030, 031, 032, 005

Below: 001, 002, 003, 027, 019, 010, 05, 012 - I think.
enjoy the swatches.

Preview: Madina Milano Have a Bright Day - To Live and To Be Free collections

Here is a little preview of some other spring products from Madina. I've already showed you the To Imagine collection in a previews post (check out Madina in my labels, I have no time for cross-linking, as you know I lack internet connection), this is just the second part.
Pictured above you can see the two To Live Living lipsticks, both creamy and bright, but still quite wearable on any occasion, as they're a bit sheer and luminous. One is called Joie de Vivre, and the other one is called I Feel Loved. Nice names huh? Their price is € 6,90.
Next are two glosses with similar colors to the shadows, but I forgot to swatch them, sorry. I've become such a lipstick girl!
Then there is a lovely blusher that glides on like silk and it's called To Live Living blush, in the shade Love is in the Air. The concept behind it is that the mix of shades in it (it's one of those blushers that look a bit like a mosaic) should recapture the flush of color and luminosity one has when being in love. Nice.
Next up is a new shade in their Luxe Eyeliner range: shade 15, which is a lovely and creamy plum that shows even on the waterline (that's hard to find in a purple eyeliner), and their plum mascara, which is a recent rave in all Madina fans.

Eccovi una piccola anteprima di altri prodotti primaverili firmati Madina. Vi ho già parlato in un post precedente della collezione primaverile Have a Bright Day To Imagine collection, ora invece vi farò vedere qualche foto della To Live. 

Nella foto in alto si può vedere lo stand, dove ci sono i due rossetti To Live Living lipsticks, entrambi molto cremosi e dai colori accesi, tuttavia abbastanza portabili in ogni occasione per il loro finish un po' sheer e luminoso. Uno si chiama Joie de Vivre e l'altro I Feel Loved. Bei nomi, vero? Hanno un prezzo di € 6,90 caduno e possono già essere acquistati sul sito.  
Poi ci sono i due lucidalabbra che mi sono dimenticata di swatchare, ma che come potete vedere
hanno delle tonalità molto simili a quelle dei rossetti. 
Dopodiché c'è uno dei pezzi forti, ossia il To Live Living Blush, nella tonalità Love is in the Air. Il concetto è che il mix di colori di questo fard riprenda un po' la tonalità e la luminosità del rossore di quando si è innamorati. Molto carina come cosa. In più questa polvere è davvero setosa e scivola che è una meraviglia. 
Ancora, altri due nuovi prodotti: la matita Luxe Eyeliner numero 15, che è un bel prugna cremoso che scrive anche all'interno dell'occhio (cosa molto difficile da trovare coi viola) e il mascara volumizzante dello stesso colore, che recentemente sta spopolando tra tutte le "Madinine".

Above are the swatches of the eyeliner, the blusher and the two lipsticks.


The last part of this collection is the To Be Free one, comprising of three powder eyeshadows, all in bright colors (the pastel yellow is BEAUTIFUL) and a bronzer called Free to Bronze, in the shade Sweet Liberty, whose concept is similar to the blusher I've mentioned before. As per usual, this powder glides on like a dream. Sorry I haven't taken a picture of the swatches for this collection here, you should know I had a temperature when I was there, so I wasn't in my right mind.

L'ultima parte di questa collezione è la To Be Free, che comprende tre ombretti in polvere, tutti molto accesi (il giallo pastello è MERAVIGLIOSO), e un bronzer che si chiama Free to Bronze, nella tonalità Sweet Liberty, il cui concetto è simile a quello del fard che vi ho mostrato su. Come sempre, questa polvere si sfuma che è una meraviglia ed è setosa. 

Mi dispiace di non aver fatto le foto agli swatches, ma con la febbre non avevo proprio testa. 

Preview: Madina Milano Hyper Intensity Eye Pencil

These are some new eye pencils I saw in a Madina store (not available online yet) that have caught my eye when I was in Milan.
Not only are they super pigmented, but they are also very creamy and ideal for a smoky eye on-the-go.
They have one end with the pencil itself, and another end with a super nice and soft natural bristles brush, ideal for smoking out the liner and also blend some eyeshadow on it.

Le matite occhi che vi faccio vedere in questo post sono delle matite di Madina che ho visto

in negozio mentre ero a Milano e che mi hanno veramente colpita.

Non solo sono super scriventi, ma sono anche molto cremose e ideali per uno smoky facile e veloce.

Hanno una parte con la mina ed un'altra parte con uno sfumino davvero molto bello, in setole naturali, ideale per fare lo smoky e per sfumare anche un po' di ombretto. 

Here are some swatches of the three colors available: plum, black-grey, and brown. You can see I blended some on one side.
They retail for € 10,00 which you may find very pricey, considering their regular pencils are € 1,90, but I can assure they are worth every cent.

Eccovi qualche swatch dei colori disponibili: prugna, nero-grigio, e marrone.

Ho fatto una linea e una linea sfumata con il pennellino incluso per farvi vedere l'effetto della sfumatura e anche quanto sfumi bene il pennello. 

Il prezzo di vendita è di € 10,00 che potrà sembrare alto, specialmente se si considera che le loro matite normali costano € 1,90, ma vi posso assicurare che valgono ogni centesimo.

an update: read this!

Hi everyone,
you may have noticed I am currently posting slightly less frequently, and that's due to life taking its toll on me.
I am moving (along with part of my family) to a new house, therefore starting tonight I won't have my internet connection for...who knows? Depends on the telephone company, so please bear with me.
I will try and set some automatic posts for you not to miss me (I hope you do miss me, by the way :P) so much when I'm gone.
It will be mainly some previews and swatches, because they're faster to write, and with work and moving, I have zero time to write full reviews.

So I hope you will be patient, and still be subscriber, and in the meantime I will miss you all.
Hopefully sometimes I can go to the university library in Sassari (because the one in my town has no connection) and check my emails, my blog, facebook and twitter page.

A kiss for you all :***

Milan Haul: Madina Milano and KIKO Make Up Milano

Here is the stuff I got in my 2 days in Milan...I could have gotten something from MAC, but the truth is that I think I don't really need MAC in my life when I have great products from Madina and KIKO for a fraction of the price!

Madina: new spring collection - I LOVE MY CHEEKS (2 blushers, can't remember the name or the numbers because they are not in my new home), the new EYE CATCHING EYESHADOWS (2 Bright's and a Velvet one - the Velvet finish is dreamy, I must add), and the peachy pink shadow from the new Have a Bright Day - To Imagine collection:

These powders are so soft that they feel like velvet to the touch. I love them. I'll post a review once I settled in my new home and the connection is back.

PrismaShine - Sheer 008 - AWESOME. I have no other words to describe it.

Sublime Touch Foundation and Blush:

I'm using them every single day ever since I got them, and I must tell you they're great products.
Once I have my connection back I will tell you about them more in-depth.

Pennello Goccia (drop-shaped eye brush), 2 Mhride concealers (they smell of vanilla, yum), a felt-tip eyeliner, and 1 cream eyeliner (which I haven't tested yet).

From KIKO:

I got 1 of their new Water Eyeshadows in Light Taupe (a pinkish light taupe color), and one of their Cream Waterproof eyeliners in 05 Pearly Brown.
I have also got a back-up for my favorite mascara, the Luxurious Lashes one (I will write a full review with pictures), but I forgot to take a picture of it.

Later on, I will post full reviews of these products. In the meantime, let me know if you bought them too and what you think of them ;)

Madina Milano Have a Bright Day - To Imagine collection and swatches

Some days ago I went to Milan because I was kindly invited to an event (which I will post about when I have more photos and my internet connection back). I took advantage of that, and with the lovely Antonella to her work place: Madina Milano in Via Meravigli.

Qualche giorno fa sono andata a Milano perché sono stata gentilmente invitata 

ad un evento ( di cui vi parlerò meglio quando avrò più foto e la  connessione di nuovo attiva).

Ne ho approfittato e sono andata con l'adorabile Antonella nel suo posto di lavoro: il negozio Madina Milano in via Meravigli.  

I took some pictures for you while I was there and swatched some new (and some less new) products, because I wanted to give you guys some guides besides their site's swatches. 

Ho scattato alcune foto mentre ero lì e swatchato qualche nuovo (e anche qualche meno nuovo) prodotto, perché volevo darvi qualche guida a parte gli swatches del loro negozio online.

I will make separate posts, and concentrate on the new spring collection, called Have a Bright Day, with all the polka dotted packaging, and smiling flowers here and there. 

The following collection is the "To Imagine" one: focus on the eyes and all the creativity you can unleash working on them.

Farò dei post separati e mi concentrerò qui sulla collezione primaverile, chiamata

Have a Bright day, con il packaging a pois e i fiori sorridenti qua e là. 

La collezione seguente è la "To Imagine": focus sugli occhi e sulla creatività che potete scatenare lavorando proprio su di essi.

Here is the complete stand. As you can see there are six powder eyeshadows in this collection, four roll-on pigments, and three colored liquid eyeliners.

Questo è lo stand completo. Come potete vedere, ci sono sei ombretti in polvere compatta in questa collezione, quattro pigmenti roll-on e tre eyeliner liquidi coloratissimi.

The powder eyeshadows range from burgundy/wine colors, to bring blue, teal, and green, and there is even a frosty peachy-pink one.

Gli ombretti in polvere compatta hanno colori che vanno dai vinaccia, ai blue, turchesi e verdi, passando poi per un bel frost rosa salmone.

I got the peachy pink one, and I can honestly say I am using this everyday to wake up my make up.
The powders are buttery soft and very blendable, quite long lasting, even if they're really creamy. So far, only one of them didn't have a great payoff, you'll see from the swatches.

Io ho preso quello rosa salmone e posso dirvi in tutta onestà che lo uso tutti i giorni per darmi un'aria un po' più sveglia (che in effetti abbisogna, visto che la natura mi sta rendendo uno zombie). 

Le polveri sono veramente cremose, morbide, quasi vellutate al tatto, altamente sfumabili e durature, nonstante il loro essere "cremosine". 

Tra tutti solo un ombretto non mi ha entusiasmata per la scrivenza, lo vedrete negli swatches.

The roll-on pigments aren't a bad idea, but can't be used on any eye shape without the help of a brush. The pigments are nevertheless lovely. They're all bright, summery colours.
The liquid eyeliners are just amazing: colored and glossy, with a slight pearly finish...summer-perfect!

I pigmenti roll-on non sono una cattiva idea, ma non sono l'ideale su ogni tipologia d'occhio. Sulla mia

per esempio non sarebbero portabili senza l'ausilio di un pennello.

I pigmenti però sono veramente bellli. Sono tutti colori accesi e molto estivi.

Gli eyeliner liquidi sono semplicemente stupendi: colorati e glossati, con un finish un po' perlato...perfetto per l'estate.

To Imagine eyeshadows € 7,90

To Imagine Instant Glow € 5,90 + liquid eyeliner € 5,90

enjoy girls!

Review: Liz Earle Botanical Essence no 1

As you can see, ever since I have received this fragrance I've worn it almost everyday. Not just me, but my mom also.
See, the good thing about this perfume I think, is that the smell is so classy that it is appropriate for any age.
At first I thought it was too "grown-woman-like", but then I smelled it over and over again and it grew on me, so much so, I'm already contemplating a buying a back-up.
Liz Earle Botanical Essence no. 1 is a classic and classy scent, neither too "cool" nor too "warm". It is a good blend of vibrant and sensual, containing Bergamot, Damask Rose, Geranium, Lavander, Vetiver, Patchouli, Mandarin, Orange and many other essential oils.

Come potete vedere, da quando ho ricevuto questo profumo l'ho usato ogni giorno. Non solo io, a dire la verità: l'ha usato ogni giorno anche mia madre. 

Ecco, penso che la cosa bella di questo profumo sia che la fragranza è classica e appropriata per tutte le età.

All'inizio ho pensato fosse troppo "da signora", poi però l'ho odorato più volte, fintanto che non ha iniziato a piacermi così tanto che ho pensato già di comparne un'altra boccetta di riserva.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No. 1 è un profumo classico, né troppo fresco ne troppo avvolgente. E' una buona miscela di odori freschi e sensuali, contenente bergamotto, Rosa di Damasco, Geranio, Lavanda, Vetiver, Patchouli, olio di Mandarino e di Arancia e altri olii essenzali.

Another good thing about it is that even people with strong reactions to most fragrances can wear this. My mom is allergic to anything chemical and she can't wear any perfume. But then she tried spritzing this on her shirts at first and she had no reaction. Now she wears it everyday for work and she hasn't had any allergic reaction yet. See, Botanical Essence no.1 is made with 98% directly derived natural ingredients!

Un'altra nota positiva è che perfino le persone che soffrono di fastidiosissime allergie alla maggior parte dei profumi possono invece portare questa fragranza. Mia madre è 

allergica a quasi tutto ciò che contiene dei reagenti chimici (tutto, in pratica) e non riesce mai ad indossare profumi. Ma da quando ha provato a spruzzare un po' di questo profumo sulla camicia e non ha avuto un minimo di reazione l'ha indossato tutti i giorni per andare a lavorare, senza avere nessuna reazione. 

La Botanical Essence no. 1 infatti è fatta al 98% di ingredienti immediatamente derivati da piante.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence no.1 retails for £ 40.35 for a 50ml spray bottle that comes in a very classy packaging and into a lovely and sturdy cardboard with a sliding opening. Nice, huh?

La Liz Earle Botanical Essence no.1 è venduta a £ 40.35 per una bottiglietta da 50 ml, bottieglietta molto carina e un contenitore davvero molto apprezzato. Bello, vero?

So what do you think? have you tried this perfume? Did you like it?


*Product received from PR for consideration. My taste may differ from yours, but generally if you like strong fragrances that will last for hours, this my be the right one*

Review: Japanesque Heated Mini Eyelash Curler, Pointed foundation brush, Eye Smudger and Make-up Removing Wipes

I was sent these goodies from Japonesque back in September, so shame on me for not having posted on these sooner. Although, an alternative way of looking at this is that I have now given them enough rounds to know all about them.

 PRO ARTIST MAKEUP WIPES
These clothes are very soft and  instantly dissolve and gently remove all types of makeup (including waterproof makeup), while hydrating the skin with Vitamin E. These nourishing cloths are incredibly refreshing, alcohol-free, and made of biodegradable materials. Each wipe is individually packaged for on-the-go use. I think this is really professional. One box includes 20 wipes, and retails for $ 12,00 which I find quite expensive, as my usual Johnson's one are less than $3,00.
Probably my only gripe with the product is the price.

TRAVEL SMUDGER
This brush is very versatile and it is perfect for smudging edges, softening lines, and blending out color in the outer edge. I mainly use it to create lines at the outer corner of the eye, but you can also create soft lines in the eye crease, or along the lash line. One of my uses of preference is also smudging a black eyeliner to create a smokey eye or a thick Audrey Hepburn-styled line.
Made with natural bristles, this brush retails for $ 14,00

TRAVEL POINT BRUSH 
Designed for foundation and concealer (it also mentions powder on the box, but I prefer my kabuki brush for that) this small but thick synthetic bristles brush allows you to blend products in the most difficult areas of your face, such as the inner corner of the eyes, around your nose and the temples (tricky if you have baby hair on the sides, like I do).
The bristles are very soft, yet allow good control and blending. This brush is especially good if you only need good coverage on certain parts of your face, or with new cream-to-powder formulae.
Easy to wash, dries quickly, fits in every purse; the brush retails for $28, but is worth every cent.
Professional indeed.
*I find this perfect for the application of my new Madina Milano Sublime Touch foundation, which I will review soon*

MINI HEATED EYELASH CURLER
Where has this been all of my life? The heated curler is so much better than normal curlers! No breaking, no pinching...just natural and lovely curls that last. And trust me, mine last for few days after I use this.
You just need to place it carefully near the roots of your lashes and gently sweep it upwards, remembering to twist your curler a bit at the tips of your lashes, so that you can have the most amazing and long curls.
*The battery was provided in the package. It lasts for ages, because you only need 15 seconds to warm it up and 2 seconds per eye to curl*
The retail price is $ 16,00 which I find a very good price for such product.

Overall, I think Japonesque is a super professional brand, and I do like the wide selection of products they have, brushes and accessories. I also think that they are not at all expensive for the value that you get.
I have to thank the lovely people at Japonesque for giving me the opportunity to try these products for free and review them for you. It was much appreciated.

For all my Italian followers, I think the best place you can go to find these brushes is the internet, as only some online stores carry Japonesque

Preview: Illamasqua Toxic Nature Spring 2011 collection

Illamasqua hit me again! I thought they couldn't bring anything that could top Art of Darkness in my heart, but I am now forced to think again. 

Their Spring 2011 collection, called TOXIC NATURE, is fantastic. The imagery is also perfect for Carnival (we're celebrating it these days here in Italy). Once again, I have to prostrate at the magnificent Alex Box. 

I was invited to the event for the launch of this collection, but since I live pretty far from London (ehm...in a different country!), I couldn't attend it. Nevertheless, I want to post the astonishing imagery for this collection. Mostly, because I am super excited about the launch of the cream pigments. 

Unpredictable, uncharted and unnat­ural, Illamasqua unleashes Toxic Nature for Spring/Summer 2011, a colour collection born from a visionary concept of nature fighting back against the genetically modified society that plunders it. Illamasqua has created the Toxic Nature collection through a palette of lurid shades, corrupted hues and glistening muted tones that offer intoxicating versions of their original selves.

“Having an artist background highly influenced this collection. The medium of paint when it is in various states [mixed on a palette, on a canvas, the colours mutating when you wash your brushes] inspired the product colours of Toxic Nature. Blends, washes, dabs, drips, daubs and splashes of colour are evident in the imagery of the collection.”  

Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director.

Like nature itself, it’s not all sweetness and light. Shades of mint, mushroom, plum, orange and rose are distorted with rich textures and pops of acid-infused brightness that command attention and draw you in…

Products

~

Cream Pigment - £17.00

Emerge – Peach    [EU only]

Bedaub - Mint

Dab - Lilac

Hollow - Toffee

Delirium – Rose Taupe  [EU only]

Mould – Grape

"A new matt formula that can either neutralise or dominate. Create the ultimate in textures whether it’s on your face, eyes, or body, bringing a flash of colour to a subtle contour.

We have supplied you with an artist’s palette so that you can experiment with mixing and matching your new Cream Pigments!"

Apply with fingers or a brush for a buildable, matt and water resistant finish.

“I don’t think we have ever created a product that is as hard working as Cream Pigment. They can correct or enhance, disguise or reveal. I am obsessed with their versatility; blush, lips, eyes, contouring … they are absolutely my favourite product right now. Super-blendable, they can be pressed and blended into skin or slicked on for graphic shapes. Education is key with the pigments. Once you have learnt how to master them, you can control their impact.” 

Alex Box, Creative Director

“The versatile and multitasking formula has an intense colour payoff that provides additional adhesion and intensification when applied before Powder Eye Shadows and Pure Pigments. The product can be used as a sheer wash or built to full coverage.” 

David Horne, Director of New Product Development

Precision Ink in ‘Glister’ - £17.00

Create looks with attitude with this glistening opalescent nude. It dries within seconds and stays true for hours, so whatever you scrawl on your skin, you know your creation will last until dawn.

Lipstick - £15.50

Intense Lipstick with a highly pigmented formula that glides on smoothly, creating a statement.

Atomic – Fuchsia violet

Flare – Bright orange

Sheer Lipgloss - £13.00

Come out of the shadows with a high-shine punch of colour. Glossy, intense, and highly pigmented, Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss is long-lasting, both on the lips and in the mind.

Torture – Coral Peach

Divine – Fuchsia Pink

Nail Varnish - £13.50

Leave your mark with an unexpected claw. Choose from either toxic pastels or unmissable neons. Hardwearing and chip-resistant.

Purity – Peach

Bacterium – Pearlescent Ash Ochre

Radium – Acidic Lime Shimmer

Stagnate – Grey Mauve

Gamma – Neon orange

Toxic Claw - £35.00

Illamasqua are proud to present the second collaboration with visionary manicurist, Mike Pocock.  A beautifully presented set of two false thumb nails, these have been designed and individually hand made by Mike. ‘The mutated aesthetic of the nail was inspired by the corrupted hues present in the Toxic Nature collection’.

And here are the extraordinary promo images:

 I look forward to play with the new cream pigments, and see pictures of the event I missed. 
So far, this is definitely my favorite collection from Illamasqua. Super suitable for everyone!

Review: The Body Shop Baked to Last eyeshadows and bronzers

What The Body Shop says:

Our Baked-to-Last Powders are a fusion of powder and pearl, handmade and baked on hot terracotta discs so pigments bind together, giving fabulous colour and rich coverage. With Community Trade olive oil.

The eyeshadows are described as:
A duo of dazzling shades, handmade and slow-baked for up to eight hours of deliciously rich colour. Shimmering tones for gorgeous eyes. (€ 12,00)

The bronzers are described as:
A natural-looking bronzer, handmade and slow-baked for up to eight hours of deliciously rich colour. Perfect for a sunkissed glow. (€ 18,00)

How the products look in natural light:

Eyeshadow duo: Jade

Bronzer: Warm Glow

Bronzer: Golden Bronze

My thoughts:
As per usual I was not disappointed by the eyeshadow: the powder is soft and not at all chalky. I was sent Jade, which is a duo composed of a pretty green (quite peculiar, I must add) and a black with green sparkles all over. These eyeshadows are rather pigmented, but they bring out their true potential when wet. Especially the black side. You can see yourself from the swatches. It is a perfect duo for a night out.
For a daytime look, you can refer to a look I made a while ago: click here.

Come sempre non sono stata delusa dagli ombretti di questo marchio:

la polvere è morbida e non sfarina. Mi è stato inviato il duo Jade, composto da un bellissimo verde (abbastanza particolare, devo aggiungere) e un nero con dei riflessi e glitterini verdi.

Questi ombretti sono molto pigmentati, ma danno il meglio se applicati con un applicatore bagnato. Specialmente la parte nera. 

Lo potete vedere da voi stessi dagli swatches. Trovo questo sia un duo perfetto per una serata in discoteca. Per un look da giorno, potete dare un'occhiata a questo che feci tempo fa: cliccate qui.  

As far as the bronzers are concerned I had a massive turn-off when I saw Golden Bronze: glitter chunks all over an "orangy" dark powder. Need I say more?
On the other hand, Warm Glow is a much better product. It is a shimmery powder with a slight pink iridescence, blends really nicely and smooths the surface of your skin. However, I don't really use it as a bronzer, as it is too light for me. I use it over my blush for some glow, or on the cheekbones to highlight. Very nice product!

Per quanto concerne i bronzer, invece, ho avuto una grossa delusione quando ho visto il Golden Bronze: pezzettoni di glitter in polvere "aranciata" e scura. Devo aggiungere altro?

D'altro canto, però, Warm Glow è un prodotto decisamente migliore. Una polvere shimmery con iridescenza rosa, che si fonde bene e liscia la superficie della pelle. Però non la uso come bronzer, bensì come highlighter o sopra i blush per aggiungere un po' di luminosità. 

Un buon prodotto.

My only gripe: the price is a bit too high for the quality (or for the quantity, as in the case of the shadows).

L'unica cosa che mi lascia perplessa è che il prezzo sia troppo alto per la qualità (o quantità nel caso degli ombretti).